Superior Court rules in favor of Bridgewater recall election

On Tuesday morning, Brockton Superior Court ruled that a special recall election in the town of Bridgewater is valid and that the petitions of the citizens forum to recall councilors Mike Demos and Peter Riordan, of districts 3 and 7 respectively, will be allowed to move forward.

By Amy Carboneau

The Herald News, Fall River, MA

By Amy Carboneau

Posted Aug. 7, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Aug 7, 2012 at 7:20 AM

By Amy Carboneau

Posted Aug. 7, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Aug 7, 2012 at 7:20 AM

BRIDGEWATER

» Social News

A Brockton Superior Court judge has ruled that an election to recall Bridgewater town councilors Mike Demos and Peter Riordan is valid.

Judge Robert C. Cosgrove issued his ruling Tuesday morning, deciding in favor of Mel Shea, David Moore and the Citizens Forum, who petitioned for the recall of the two councilors.

Shea, Moore and the Citizens Forum pushed to recall councilors Demos, who represents district 3, and Riordan, district 7, because the two councilors refused to put the position of town manager on equal footing with the Town Council.

Judge Cosgrove also ruled in favor of Town Clerk Ron Adams, who had lodged a separate lawsuit against the town council for not moving forward with scheduling the recall election.

Attorney Jason Buffington, of Taunton, who represented Adams and the Board of Registrars, issued a press release related to the ruling.

It states: “In his decision, Judge Richard C. Cosgrove specifically found that the Recall Act is valid, that it may be invoked against members of the Town Council, that a temporary registrar was properly appointed, and that the recall petitions and certifications were properly made by the town clerk and Board of Registrars.”

The ruling requires Demos and Riordan to reimburse attorney fees incurred by Shea, Moore and the Citizens Forum, who led the petition.

Councilors have said they will move forward to set a recall election date if the judge so ruled.